Timing mechanism.



R. M. a. PHILLIPS.

TIMING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG- I913.

Patented A i; 18

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

R. M. e. PHILLIPS;

TIMING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-1, 1913- I Patented Apr. 18, 1916.-

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

R. M. G. PHILLIPS.

v TIMING MECHANISM. A-APIPLICATIYON men Aue.1. m3.

' Patented Apr. 18, 1916. L

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3;

R. M. G. PHI LLIPS. TIMING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED AUGJ, I913- meme-( Apr. 18,1916.

"4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

' STATES'PATENT OFFICE.

13055 M. G. PHILLIPS, OF WEST HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, AS SIGNOR TO THESENTINEL AUTOMATIC GAS APPLIANCE 00., OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT. ACORPORATION.

TIMING MECHANISM.

Specification of letters Patent.

' Patented Apr. 18, 1916.

Application filed. August 1, 1913. Serial No. 782,445.

a West Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of. Connecticut, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Timing Mechanism; and I dohereby declare the following, when taken in connection withthe'accompanying drawings and the characters of reference markedthereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, andwhich said drawings constitute part of this application, and represent,in-

Figure 1 a broken view in elevation, showing my improved timingmechanism applied to a gas-heater connected with a boiler. Fig. :2 adetached view in front elevation of the timing-mechanism with a portionof its case broken away and its parts being shown in their normal orinactive positions. Fig. 3 a corresponding view showing its automaticgas-valve in vertical section and its timing-dial released preparatoryto setting the mechanism in operation. Fig. 4 a corresponding view withits setting-lever swinging into its set-position. Fig. 5 a view of thetiming-mechanism in rear elevation with the back of its case and therear movement-plate of its time-train removed. Fig. 6 an edge view ofthe device with its case in vertical section and its supply-mechanism inelevation with the exception of its supply-limiting lever which is shownin section. Fig. '7 a view of the device in horizontal section on theline a?) of Fig. 6 and looking downward. Fig. 8 a detached broken viewin inside elevation of the frame-plate of the device showing alsoasimple, reliable and convenient device 50 having a wide range of use.

1V1th these ends in vlew my invention consists 1n :1 tlmmg-mechamsmhaving certain details of construction and combinations'of parts as willbe hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

For the purpose of illustrating my inventlon, I have shown it asattached to an ordinary gas-heater 2 respectively connected at its upperand lower ends by pipes 3, 4, to a water boiler 5 mounted on a standard6.

My im'proved mechanism, as shown, has a settmg-lever 7 furnished at itslower end Wlth' a handle 8- and having its upper end formed with anindicator or pointer 9 which sweeps over. the graduations of a dial 10applied to the upper portion of the outer face of a sheet-metal case 11.The said lever .7 which is located in front of the said case, is rlgldlysecured by a screw 12 to the projectmg forward end of a bearing-hub 13journaled in the frame-plate 14, and formed integral with a concentricshoulder 15 located upon the outer face of a timing-disk or member 16having a segmental timingslot 17 receiving a timing-pin .18 carried by asupply-limiting-lever 19 located within the said case 11 close to therear face of the frame-plate 14 which is fixed within the said case 11at-the extreme front thereof as shown in Fig. 6.

For driving the timing-disk or memben 16, it is formed upon its innerface with a concentric driving-hub 20 (Fig. 8) having a square opening21 receiving the squared forward end 22 of the main-spring arbor 23 therear end of which has bearing in the rear m0vement-plate 21 which has acomplementary front movement-plate 25, both of ordinary construction. Amain spring 26 coiled upon the said arbor 23 has its inner end fastenedthereto and its outer end fastenedto one of the movementpillars in theusual manner. A windingratchet 27 mounted upon the rear end of the arbor23, has its teeth out so that each tooth shall represent a predeterminedamount of time. say, five minutes, as in the present construction. Theseteeth are engaged bv a pawl or dog 28 operated by a spring 29 andswinging upon a pin 30 in the main-wheel 31 of the time-train which maybe of any convenient and approved construction. In the timetrain shownin the accompanying drawings, the said main-wheel 31, which turnsloosely upon thesaid arbor 23, meshes into a lantern-pinion 32 mountedupon an arbor 33 carrying a wheel 34 which meshes into a lantern-pinion35 mounted upon an arbor 36 carrying a wheel 37 which meshes into alantern-pinion 38 mounted upon an arbor 39 ulating-cone 48-formed uponthe lower end of a rod-regulator 49 slotted at its upper end as at 50for the'reception of a screwdriver. The rod-regulator 49 is formed nearits lower end with threads 51 and passes through a threaded bearing 52carried by a narrow plate 53 secured to the lower end of the rearmovement-plate 24 and having the spring-fingers 47 attached to its lowerend.

When the timing-disk 16 is being rotated by the time-train, thetiming-pin 18 is held against the edge of the said disk, by means of ahelical supply-limiting spring 54 having its lower end attached to thesupplylimiting lever 19 and its upper end to the frame-plate 14 (Fig.5), whereby the said spring exerts a constant upward pull'upon the saidlever which is lifted with a quick upward movement when the said slot isbrought into registration with the said pin which permits the lever tobe lifted until the said pin reaches the upper end of the said slot.

For the-manual operation of the supplylimiting'lever 19 against thetension of its spring 54, its curved outer end is furnished with a stem55 projecting forward through a segmental slot 56 in the frame-plate 14and through a corresponding slot 57 in the case 11, the outer end of thestem carrying an operating-handle or knob 58 which, as it is pulleddownward also moves from left to right in accordance with the circle inwhich it swings.

Preparatory to winding the main spring 26 by means of the setting-lever7, the said knob 55 is pulled downward against the tension of the spring54, whereby the pin 18 is drawn. out of the slot 17 in the timing-disk16. The movement of the knob 58 downward and from left to right beingcontinued,

the stem 55 engages with the adjacent edge of the setting-lever 7,whereby the same is swung from left to right for a sufficient dis tanceto cause the open lower end of the slot 17 to move out of registrationwith the path of the pin 18. This initial movement of the lever 7 iseffected solely by the stem 55 and knob 58 of the lever 19. Furthermovement of the knob 58 and stem 55 downward, and also from left toright, finally causes the stem 55 to ride into a coupling-notch59 in theadjacent edge of the setting-lever 7, whereby. the setting-lever 7 andthe supplylimiting lever 19 are temporarily coupled to- '7 from left toright, its coupling-notch 59.

is pulled away from the stem 56, whereby the supply-limiting lever 19 isreleased to the action of its spring 54 and abruptly lifted with itsstop-pin 18 which now engages with and rides upon the periphery of thetiming-disk 16, the slot 17 thereof 'having previously been carried outof line with the path of the pin 18 by the slight rotation of thetiming-disk 16 due to the initial movement of the setting-lever 7 fromleft to right as already described.

The manual swingingof the setting-arm 7 as described, from left to rightturns the arbor 23 and proportionally winds the main spring 26. Theratchet wheel 27 turning with the arbor 23, causes the pawl 28 to take ahitch so to speak, on the spring 26 which it thus connects with thetime-train which at once begins to run. As the timetrain runs, thespring 26 unwinds and slowly turns the timing-disk 16 .back to itszeropcsition and so brings the lower end of its slot 17 intoregistration with the stop-pin 18. As soon as this takes place, thespring 54-asserts itself and raises the stop-pin 18 in terminationof'the time-limit at which the device was set whenthe lever was swung towind the spring.

. The main spring is always kept under some tension and. would tend tokeep the train running and so cause the pin 18 to bind in the slot 17.To prevent this, a stoppin 60 is mounted in the disk 16 in position toengage with a fixed portion of the movement just as the pin 18 entersthe slot 17 As shown, the stop-pin 60 engages with a nut 61 on thepillar 62, but any fixed part of the device will answer this purpose. Bykeeping the spring 26 normally under tension, the timingdial is normallymaintained in its zero position by being turned until the stop-pin 60engages with a fixed supply-limiting lever 19 is smartly lifted, 1'

carrying with it a vertically arranged operating-link 63 the upper endof which is connected with the said lever 19, while its lower end ispivotally connected with .a slotted head 64 mounted on the shank 65 of agvalve-operating lever 66 located between two arms 67. 67,"cast integralw1th and depending from the valve-body 68. The pivot 69 on which thelever 66 swings is mounted in these'arms. The said lever 66 engages withthe projecting lower end of a valve-stem 70 the upper end of whichcarries a ball-valve 71 co-acting with a seat 72 in the valve-body orcasing 68 which is located within the case 11 and fastened to theframe-plate 14. A valve-spring 73 encircling the lower end of thevalve-stem 70 is provided for normally holding the valve 71 upon itsseat 72. The upper coil of the spring 73 impinges against a washer 74which in turn holds a packing 75 in place, while the lower coil ofthespring 73 rests upon an adjusting nut 76 011 the lower end of thevalve-stem. The said valve-body 68 is chambered to form a horizontalgas-passage 77 to which gas is supplied by means of a short intermediategas-pipe 78 permanently located within the lower portion of the case 11,and, as shown, having its outer end connected with the main gas-su plypipe 79. The horizontal gas-passage 7 intersects the lowerend of avertical gaspassage 80 terminating in the valve-seat 72 which is locatedat the lower endof a valvechamber 81 capped with an ordinary plug 82 andintersected by a threaded nipple 83 receiving, as shown, a coupling-pipe84 (Fig. 1) running into the base of the heater 2 and thus to the burnerwithin the same. A small pilot-light nipple 85 is tapped into thevalve-body 68 at a point below the valve 71 and in line with thegas-pipe 78 so as to receive a suflicient supply of gas therefrom tosupport a pilot-light. The nipple 85 receives a pilot lighttube 86(Fig. 1) leading into the base of the heater 2, and hence to apilot-light burner which is not shown.

- My improved timing-mechanism may be used on either side of the heater2. As shown it is connected on the right hand side thereof. To connectit' on the left hand side thereof, the supply pipe 79 will be shifted tothe nipple 83, and the couplingipe 84 shifted to the intermediate pipe78 f drming a permanent feature of the mechanism and contained withinthe casing '11 thereof. When the mechanism is used on the left hand sideof the heater 2, the pilot-light nipple 85 will be plugged and thepilotlight tube 86 connected to a pilot-light tube 87 permanentlymounted in the case 11 above the pipe 78 aforesaid. projecting at oneend through the case and at its opposite end intersecting thevalve-chamber 81.

"In the modified construction shown .by Fig. 9 of the drawings. myimproved device is adapted to control the flow of an electric currentrather than the flow of gas. F or this purpose, the lower end of thelink 63 is connected with the blade member 88 of a knife-bladeswitchalso comprisin .It will be readily understood that when theoperating-lever 19 is pulled down bv its knob 58, the link 63 willdescend and force the blade88 between the fingers 89 and thus close theelectric circuit which will be broken the instant the time-limit towhich the device was set expires, by the lifting of the blade 88 throughthe medium of the link 63 and arm 19, due to the action of the spring54.

The modification illustrated by Fig. 9,

=sufliciently indicates how my improved timing mechanism may beutilized, in other ways than by putting a time limit upon the supply ofgas. The character of the mechanism operated by the link 63 will, ofcourse, be varied in accordance with the'character of the commoditybeing supplied. The notch 59 is used for convenience, but may bedispensed with in which case both hands will be required for theoperation of the device.

I call particular attention to the fact that in my improved device theturning on of the gas or electric current or what not, is made acondition precedent to the setting of the timing-mechanism. Thus, themanually operable supply-limiting lever 19 must be' drawn downward toentirely clear the timing-pin 18 from the slot 17 in the timingdisk 16to release the same for being turned by the setting-lever 7. Thisconstruction insures the conservation of the gas or current or whateverelse is measured by the timing-mechanism. If my invention is applied tomeasure the fuel gas supplied to a water-boiler for heating the water,the user will be insured the heating of the water and the cutting off ofthe gas at a predetermined time, since when he operates thesupplyimiting lever 19 as a condition precedent to setting thetiming-mechanism, the gas is automatically lighted by the pilot light,while the setting of the timing-mechanism immediately following theturning on of the gas, provides for automatically turning off the gas ata predetermined time.

I would further call attention to the fact that whereas the turning onof the gas is a condition precedent to the setting of thetiming-mechanism, the setting of the timingmechanism is a conditionprecedent to maintaining the gas-cock open, since after the timing-pin18 has been cleared from the timing-slot 17, it will immediately be re-.

entered intc the slot by the action of the spring 54, unless while thelever 19 is pulled down,the setting-lever 7 is-swung so as to move theslot 17 'out of registration with the timing-pin 18 and bring the edgeof the timing-disk 16 into position to be engaged by the pin 18 whichthen acts to hold the lever 19 against the tension of the spring 54,,andthus hold .the gas-cock open.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the manual operation of the suppy-limiting lever 19 is a condition precedent to the setting of thetiming-mechanism, and that the setting of the timing-mechanism is acondition precedent to holding the-supply-limiting lever 19 in positionto keep the as turned on. This principle of operatlon would hold goodfor the measuring of an electric current.

I also call attention to the self-contained character of my improvedapparatus, where-- by the timing-mechanism, thedevice-to-betimed, andthe connection between the said mechanism and device are compactlylocated within one and the same case.

I claim 1. In a timing-mechanism, the combination with an arbor, adriving spring therefor, a timing-disk concentric with the arbor androtated thereby, a setting-lever for turnanism having an arbor, adriving spring therefor, and a timing-disk .rotated by the said arborand provided With a timing-slot;

. of a combined setting-and-winding lever for simultaneously turningsaid arbor and disk for setting the said mechanism and proportionatelywinding the said spring, a manually operable supply-controlling levercoacting with the said disk and the -slot thereof, means for connectingthe said supplycontrolling lever with the device to be timed,

and means whereby the operation of the supply-controlling lever mustprecede the operation of the combined setting-and-winding lever forsetting the mechanism.

3. In a timing-mechanism, the combination with a case, of an arborlocatedtherein, a driving spring for the said arbor, a

timing-disk located within the said case and mounted upon the arbor, acombined settingand-winding lever connected with the arbor and locatedupon the outside of the said case, a manually operablesupply-controlling lever-located within the casebut operable from theoutside thereof, a device to be timed located'within the case, meanslocated within the case for connecting the said supply-controlling leverwith the device to be timed, and means whereby the operation of thesupply-controlling .lever for the release of the disk must precede theoperation of the combined winding-and-setting lever for setting themechanism.

4. In a timing-mechanism, the combinatlon with acase, of an arborlocated there- 1n, a dr ving-spring for the said arbor, a tlmlng-diskmounted upon the said arbor and turning therewith, a dial located uponthe outside of the case, a combined settingand-winding lever located infront of the "said dial and connected with the said arbor,

a supply-controlling lever located within the stud case, manuallyoperable from the exterior thereof and co-acting with the said 'disk bymeans of which it is released at a pre-determined time, a device to betimed located within the case, means connecting the supply-controllinglever with the device to be timed, and means whereby the settingoperation of the supply-controlling lever must precede the setting ofthe disk by the combined setting-and-winding lever.

5. In a timing device, the combination with an arbor, a driving springtherefor, a

timing-disk mounted upon the said arbor and rotated thereby, a combinedsettingand-winding lever'mounted upon the said arbor, a-manuallyoperable supply-controL- ling lever co-acting directly with the saiddisk, a device to be timed, and connection between the saidsupply-controlling lever with the device to be timed, the said setting-.and-supply-controlling levers being adapted to be coupled together insetting the mechanism.

6. The combination with a case, of an arbor located therein, a drivingspring therefor, a timing-disk mounted uponthe arbor and rotatedthereby, a combined setting-and-Winding lever operable from the fexterior of the case for turning the said arbor. a, supply-controllinglever manually operable from the exterior of the case, a de vice to betimed, means connecting the said manually operable supply-controllinglever with the device to be timed, the said levers being notched topermit them to be coupled together, and means whereby the operation ofthe supply-controlling lever for the release of the disk must precedethe oper ation of the combined winding-and-setting rotating therewith,of a combined settin and-winding lever operable from the outsi e of thecase and mounted upon a projecting end of the arbor, a manually operablesupply-controlling lever located within the said- ,case but operablefrom the outside thereof,

a device to be timed, means located within the case for connecting thesupply-controlling lever with the device to be timed, and means wherebythe setting operation of the supply-controlling lever must .precede thesetting operation of the combined-settingand-wlnding lever.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification in the presenceof two subscribing witnesses.

' ROSS M. G. PHILLIPS.

Witnesses:

CLARA L. WEED, M. P. NICHOLS.

